Ore concentrator and separator.



No. 667,5l4. Patented Feb. 5, i90l.

G. J. FREY. ORE CONCENTRATOR AND SEPARATO-R,

(Application filed Oct. 26, 1897.)

(No Model.)

Ill

A mm? w lUNiTnn STATES ATENT FFICE.

GUSTAVUS J. FREY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

ORE CONCENTRATCR AND SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,514, dated February 5,1901.

Application filed October 26, 1897.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAVUS J. FREY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore Concentrators and Separators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the'same.

This invention relates generally to that class of devices known in the art as concentrators, which are provided for the separation of ore from intermingled or alluvial material, either in a dry or wet state, and through an agitative action and the attraction of gravity.

The prime object of my present invention is to provide a simple, light, durable, and compact concentrator portable and economical in construction, durable and reliable in operation, readily adjustable or interchangeable in its various parts, and arranged to ac complish a high degree of separation of the precious metals.

A further purpose of my invention is to successfully cope with sand or gravel of low, grade and extreme fineness and low specific gravity.

I attain these objects by the features of construction and the combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which similarcharacters of reference represent corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the trays employed. Fig. 3 is a section of a small portion of the box and tray, showing the mannerof connecting them together. Fig. 4 is a section of a detail. Fig. 5 is a section of the end corrugated pieces, and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same.

The main supporting medium of the device consists of the rectangular framework 1, formed of the four corner-posts 2 3 4 5 and suitable cross and connecting members, all firmly joined and braced to form a rigid structure. Situated within this framework 1 and suspended from the upper cross-pieces 7 and Serial No. 656,453- (No model.)

8 by means of the four corner-rods 9 10 11-12 is the box 13, which contains the trays employed in the concentration process and which I will describe more fully hereinafter.

Suitably hung in bearings 14 15 near the lower extremities of the posts 2 and 3 is the shaft 16, which is slightly offset at the points 17 and 18 to form suitable crank-arms, which are connected to opposite ends of the box 13 by means of the long rods 19 and 20.

Secured to the box 13, at the center of the bottom thereof, is the cross-brace 21, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) while the brace 22 (shown in broken lines in Fig. 1) connects the lower members a and b of the framework 1 together and passes in a direction at right angles to brace 21. Passing loosely through the point of crossing of these braces 21 and 22 is the bolt 23, which acts asa pivot and is shown in Fig. 4.

Situated within the box 13 and arranged in a relatively zigzag position one below the other are the metal pans A B O, the upper end of each of which projects slightly beyond the lower end of the one immediately above. Each of these pans A B O is provided with an outer rim :1: and parallel transverse flanges m m m, &c., which project upward in a perpendicular position as the bottom it of the pan is inclined in its normal position or that shown in Fig. 1. In order to render the pans easily removable, I have provided the side flanges y, which are adapted to slide in the grooves 2. (Shown in detail in Fig. 3.)

Secured to the under surface of opposite ends of the box 13 are the metal pieces 24, to which are riveted a series of equidistant strips 25, made, preferably, of wrought-iron and semicircular in cross-section. Directly below these strips 25 are the pieces 26, which are formed on the arc of a circle whose center is the center of the bottom of the box 13 and securely screwed to the framework 1. The strips 27, which are secured to the pieces 26, are adapted to come in contact with the strips 25.

In order to regulate the degree of engagement between the strips" 25 and 27, I have provided each rod 9 10 11 12 with a twin buckle j.

Having thus explained the construction of the principal parts of the concentrator, I will now set forth the method of operation of each component part.

Either hand, Water, steam, or other motive power is connected with the shaft 16 by means of cranks, belts, or other connections, thus causing the shaft 16 to revolve, the motion therefrom being transmitted to the hanging box 13 through the rods 19 and 20. It is manifest that the box 13 will receive a decided agitative motion, which is greatly augmented by the contact between the corrugated pieces 24 and 26. The crushed ore, gravel, black sand, or other material to be concentrated is fed by hand or other suitable means into the upper end of the upper pan A, whence it travels along the inclined bottom of the pan, and coming in contact with the flanges m m, &c., the particles of greater specific gravity are lodged, while the lighter material passes over to the next flange and finally to the second pan B and 'last pan 0, from which the tailings pass to a suitable dump or receptacle. By providing a small quantity of mercury in the cavity formed by each flange m on m", &c., the gold is immediately taken up and saved, thereby preventing extremely fine and light particles from escaping.

In certain classes of ore I may find it desirable to employ strips of canvas, blanket, or other material to further aid in the concentrating process. These strips could be placed between adjacent flanges m m, &c.

It will be manifest that the concentratingpans may be constructed with any number and form of flanges or depressions, and I therefore do not desire to confine my invention to the exact number or form shown in the drawings. Further, I do not wish to limit myself to the exact number of concentratingpans shown.

It is my intention to inclose the entire device by the tight covering W, while access to the pans may be gained through the doors X.

I11 my concentrator as thus described and shown I have provided means that may be easily operated by one workman at but a slight expense and under conditions that would otherwise require a large outlay in preparing-for the concentrating process.

I have described the best form of construction now used by me; but it will be understood that I intend to cover mechanical equivalents when such are substituted.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a concentrator the combination with a suitable closed box, an interior box 13 within said box, adjustable rods 9, 10, 11, 12 attached to said closed box and suspending the corners of said interior box, a plurality of inclined pans within said interior and arranged one above the other, the upper end of each pan extending beyond the lower end of the one immediately above, said pans being provided with longitudinal flanges, and inclined grooves in said interior box for the reception of said flanges, horizontal shaft 16 hung on said closed box, and pitman-rods 19 and 20 connecting opposite ends of said interior box to said shaft, loosely-fitting bolt 23 connecting the bottom of said interior box with said exterior box, arc-shaped corrugated pieces 24 and 26 secured to opposite ends of said interior box and said outer box respectively, and a series of partitions within said pans, said corrugated pieces being made up of a series of independent adjacent strips, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAVUS J. FREY.

Witnesses:

E1). NIELSEN, HENRY P. TRIOOU. 

